The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Codman Academy Charter Public (district)
Codman Academy Charter Public is a single-school district in Dorchester that runs from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, making it a rare all-through option in Boston. The school enrolls fewer students than most typical K-12 districts, with an enrollment that is mostly Black and well over a quarter Hispanic. The district is a Commonwealth charter school, and its charter was renewed in 2021, confirming that it remains authorized to operate in Dorchester for another term.
State testing results show that proficiency rates across tested grades and subjects are low. In math, the share of students reaching proficiency on the Massachusetts state assessment was small, and in English language arts it was modestly higher but still well below the typical district. In both science and eighth-grade social studies, no students tested reached the proficient level. The district’s overall proficiency index, combining all tested subjects and grades, places it in the bottom quartile among Suffolk County’s districts. A parent considering this school should look into what academic interventions and supports are available, and what the school’s own progress benchmarks look like beyond the state test.
The high school grades are present here, but we do not have a graduation rate for the district, which is a notable gap. The chronic absenteeism rate, while lower than the median figure among county districts, is still substantial, and families should understand that a sizable portion of the student body misses enough school to be considered chronically absent. The district’s per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among its county peers, which may reflect the relatively small enrollment and the concentration of resources in a single school site.
Because the school serves all grades in one building, a child who enters in pre-K could stay through high school graduation without ever changing schools. That continuity is a practical feature that some families value. The school’s student body is entirely non-white, which is far from the demographic of most Massachusetts districts and may feel like a strength for families seeking an environment that reflects a particular cultural or community experience.
The district did not report data on free-or-reduced-price lunch rates, special education identification, or English learner status, so it is difficult to gauge the level of economic need or the intensity of specialized support services from the available information. The same gap applies to disciplinary data and staffing ratios, which are not available here. A parent should ask the school directly about class sizes, special education staffing, and how the school supports students who are behind grade level.
For a family weighing this district against other Suffolk County options, the academic proficiency picture is the central concern. The school performs far below the county median on state assessments, and while the charter renewal signals that it meets state accountability standards for continued operation, the test results themselves are a red flag for many families. The trade-off may be the school’s community, its all-through structure, and its location in Dorchester, which may make it a practical fit for a family that values those elements over comparative test scores.
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